Friday, March 25, 2011

Decorate Your Home With Faux Tin Tiles

Adding metal tiles to this ceiling will re-create an Old World look.


Metal tiles give a room a special feeling reminiscent of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Ceilings of schoolhouses and commercial buildings of that era, as well as parlors in private homes, were covered with pressed metal squares. New materials that resemble old tin tiles are made of metal alloys, acrylic and plastic. You can buy the material in individual squares, ranging in size from 6 inches square to 6-foot squares, depending on how you want to use it. The design of these materials create a room focal point, so use faux tin tiles in places that you want to stand out.


Instructions


1. Use faux tin tiles in the kitchen in the backsplash area above counters. Cover an island bar exterior with these tiles for an artistic look. Add the tiles to the sides of an old cabinet for an interesting accent piece. Secure the tiles in place and add appropriate trim, such as wood or metal strips sold with the tile.


2. Install faux metal decorative squares, which come in gold, bronze, silver and many painted colors, on a ceiling 9 feet or higher. Paint the walls white or a neutral color, so the faux metal ceiling will gain more attention. Use this decorating technique in a laundry area, back entrance of a home, or the kitchen. Add ceiling fans, if you wish, to enhance the nostalgic look.


3. Add faux tin tiles on one wall of a bathroom, behind a pedestal sink or a clawfoot tub. Add the tiles sparingly, because a material that is not real metal will not have the upscale look of real metal. Incorporate these tiles into a room for decorative appeal, but add crown molding and high-quality light fixtures to make the room look high-end. Avoid buying faux metal tiles that are too shiny, or they will seem more like plastic sheeting.


4. Install these tiles on the walls of a walk-in closet to create a slick surface, so that delicate clothing on hanging rods will not get snagged. Add the tiles in sheeting, making sure you have no rough edges, so that blouses or sweaters placed on closet shelving will not snag. Install light gray or white faux tiles so lighting in the closet will reflect off the tile walls. Don't use darker hues of faux tiles, which will subdue all lighting.


5. Take advantage of the slick surface of faux tin tiles on the walls and ceiling of a kitchen pantry to make it user-friendly for moving canned goods around on shelving, and to make it easy to wipe down the walls from time to time. Add faux tiles with a metallic look to give the kitchen a vintage flavor. Hang an old print or two from the early 1900s inside the pantry on the back of the main door or over shelving.

Tags: faux tiles, faux metal, faux tiles, these tiles, ceiling will